Non UPF snack ideas?

[Lattelattecappucino]

This week I've had carrot sticks and mixed nuts, home made banana cake and popcorn.

I'm thinking of things you can pack for on the move, trying to avoid UPF but just wondering if anyone else is trying to avoid the processed stuff out and about and has good ideas?

Some pp are leaving less helpful comments about the virtues or not of snacking.

I'm breastfeeding, shift working, studying, juggling two very small infants and keeping the whole f-ing show on the road with no family help as they died in the pandemic. I take medication that means I have to take it with food.

If I want to eat because my body is telling me it needs fuel because I'm literally feeding other tiny people who need me to survive the I'm damn well going to eat my fucking homemade whole food free-from banana bread.

If I'm grabbing a toasted bloody pita bread whilst I'm running to another of my child's medical appointments then I am entitled to do so.

Asking for recipe ideas not judgement.

Would you consider making your own bread? It really is simple to do then you could make it into sandwiches with cheese and similar.
Another idea I had was trail mix: some seeds, dried fruit, coconut flakes, chocolate drops etc.

There's a podcast by the Zoe people (featured in the Panorama programme) about snacking, and how it is a cultural change in this country. As pp said, back in the day, there was an expectation that you would wait until the next meal - snacks were treats rather than something to be expected. But now, even kids at school are eating something every hour or two.

But that's not us now, and the presenters were saying that not only do most people snack now, but their bodies and brains are used to it - it's real feelings of hunger when you need a snack if that's the way you eat.

I would second something homebaked. Things like granola bars, scones, cheese straws and seed crackers are pretty quick to bake and can be kept in a tin for a few days or frozen.

More expensive - nuts are supposed to be filling, so a handful of walnuts, almonds or cashews with a piece of fruit will satisfy longer than just fruit - bananas more filling than apples.

Stale bread cut into cubes take less than ten mins to turn into garlic croutons in a frying pan or an airfryer - drizzle oil and toss cubes around with some garlic salt and dried herbs and fry or airfry.

What was the programme about these upf?

There are lots of podcasts and other programmes on youtube, but I think it's the Panorama episode (on iplayer) that most people have seen.

This page is useful - NOVA 4 means UPF.

No judgement intended OP. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

I've just had a banana. Very original